Be honest: if you had the chance to go back in the past and change anything about yourself and the people you hanged around with, you’ll wave that magic wand in a heartbeat (be honest now!)
Well JERU THE DAMAJA‘s lyric video for latest track, ‘IF (IF WAS)’, may not be that much-needed magic wand, but it’s a firm reminder that, whatever we been through or going through, we can learn something valuable about ourselves…and keep it moving for a brighter future…check out the video below…
Released earlier in the year, the piano-led single ‘Love Yourz’ leads the way with in ISAAC B‘s latest EP, ‘Chances Ocean’. The melodic piece which encourages us to be grateful for what we got, rather pining after other’s success stories, sets the tone for this conscious mini set.
‘Chances Ocean’ then takes on a meditative and somewhat a seductive stance on hip-hop and R&B, which arguably has a Tom Misch twang to it. The promising rapper covers a ray of topics – from paying homage to prominent figures who paved the way in hip-hop (in ‘I’m Here’), to contemplating the reason why the good die young and his desire to get a Grammy in honor of his late grandmother (in ‘Did You Further) and having that ego boost, while staying humble, as his career progresses (in ‘Lean’.)
When I first discovered Isaac B through his bass-heavy joint, ‘See No Evil, Hear No Evil (SNE HNE)’ last year, from that moment I knew he was a serious hip-hop contender who isn’t worry about following the crowd. Tracks ‘Oceans and Chances’ and ‘Yourz Truly’ (to me) reveals that side of him as a musician. Although he has sheer determination to make an impressive dent in the game, his priority is to stay true to himself rather than chasing ‘the fame’.
Sonically, I expected to hear some roaring thuds as in ‘SNE HNE’ – but it doesn’t mean that I was left disappointed. ‘Chances Ocean’ reveals to me that this conscious spitter can turn his hand to anything and I cannot to see how far his musical journey will take him.
Have a listen to ‘Chances Ocean’ below…
Must Listens: Love Yourz, Oceans and Chances, Higher Power
‘3rd Eye Shut’ is the first single from the new EP by South East London emcee Caskie.
Attacking the beat with his relentless flows and articulately condensed rhyme patterns, Caskie remarks on the ongoing struggle faced by the many, whilst addressing the urgent need to shine a light on the dark.
“Everything around us in terms of the social and economic landscape today seems geared to mislead or misinform us… from crooked politicians to so-called gangsters…. the narrative rewrites and perpetuates itself daily.” – Caskie
In context of the superficial, fake and fraudulent society in which we live, Caskie uses the music video to illustrate the way in which mainstream media can deceive and manipulate the public’s perception.
The accompanying video, referencing 1980s John Carpenter movie ‘They Live’, was shot, edited and produced by Nicholas Tate of Deaf Nick Visuals who was also responsible for the visual effects.
After spending many years as a session drummer and backing vocalist, he was also a member of the group Dusty Stragglers alongside Flabz, Sylva Grey and producer Peter Coates. Caskie has since turned his attention to his solo material, and come out of the shadows with his debut EP ‘Ways To Stay Broke’, out September 5th, 2020.
Led by ‘3rd Eye Shut’, the EP was released on Friday (14th August) on all streaming platforms. Check out the video below…
STRIZZY STRAUSS‘ track, ‘Trust the Process’ is an inspirational and motivational piece exploring his journey as an artist, flanked by a chilled reflective piano driven production.
‘Trust the Process’ is the leading single from Strauss’ debut album bearing the same name. The album is a triumphant breakthrough, exploring Strauss’ personal struggles with parenthood, ambition and street life.
Hailing from Leicester, Strizzy Strauss has toured and performed with the GZA, Big Daddy Kane, Pharoahe Monche, Rodney P, Klashnekoff among others. He has received support from BBC 1Xtra, BBC Introducing, Mixtape Madness, Trench Magazine, FuBar Radio, DemonFM and I Am Hip Hop Magazine.
Check out the video for the track below…
Following on from ‘Jewels’ – which saw support from Spotify’s New Music Friday UK & We Move – Irish Rapper JYELLOWL delivers his next single, ‘Doesn’t Feel Like’
Born to Jamaican and Nigerian parents and raised in Ireland, the Dublin-based rapper has drawn on all three origins to create a distinctly powerful sound that is radically individual. ‘Doesn’t Feel Like’ summarises his experience moving to Ireland as an African immigrant in just 3minutes, 42 seconds.
JyellowL recalls “This song is about my experience as an African immigrant in the western world. I came to Ireland when I was in my early teens and it was the first time I was made conscious of my racial and cultural difference. The first time I experienced racism, covert and blatantly overt. The first time I met people who hated me because of my race and wanted to cause me bodily harm as a result. The first time I met people who truly believed they were my superior because of my skin colour. The first time that my character was judged based on the actions of groups of people, whom I shared nothing in common with but complexion, and faced the physical consequences in some instances. Those experiences I faced coupled with the historic injustice faced other black people all over the western world, made me feel like I didn’t belong here. They say home is where the heart is, but I found it very difficult to place my heart somewhere that I was regularly reminded was not my ‘actual’ home.”
‘Doesn’t Feel Like’ is the second single to be taken from his forthcoming debut LP 2020 D|VISION. Check out the official video for single below…
New Lease Music 